Governor Rule ‘to go’ in 2 days

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party has decided to lift Governor Rule in Balochistan in a couple of days; however, the final decision on the matter would be made at the Parliamentary Party meeting of PPP provincial chapter to be held today here at the residence of Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah.

Governor Rule in Balochistan was clamped on January 14 for a period of two months and for its continuation the federal government is required to seek its extension from the Joint Sitting of the Parliament by March 14. Otherwise, it would automatically be lifted.Sources in the PPP informed that the federal government would not seek extension from the parliament. Right now the party leadership was busy in resolving a rift within Balochistan chapter of the PPP. They said that President Zardari has tasked Khursheed Shah to help resolve the differences.

PPP Sources informed that party’s Balochistan chapter president and former provincial minister Mir Sadiq Umrani was opposing restoration of Raisani and was demanding bringing in a new man. But another PPP Balochistan group led by former minister Ali Madad Jattik was supporting Raisani’s restoration.With the return of the suspended Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani from abroad, the political activities have geared up in Islamabad, especially at the Balochistan House. On the direction of party high command, all the party MPAs of Balochistan Assembly have been directed to ensure their presence in Monday’s meeting. A final decision on the issue is expected in Monday’s meeting after which either Raisani would be restored or a new Leader of the House would be installed, a senior PPP leader informed The Nation.

Sources said that the day Governor Rule would be lifted and Balochistan Assembly would be restored Jamiat Ulema-I-Islam(Fazl), which was earlier part of the coalition government, would be allotted seats on opposition benches and JUI-F Parliamentary Leader Abdul Wasay would be notified as Leader of Opposition.Sources said that those opposing Raisanis’s restoration as chief minister say that the position of suspended chief minister has become more dubious after Nawab Lashkari Raisani’s joining the PML-N; therefore, a trusted PPP loyalist should be given the prime slot now.

Similarly the well-known friendship of Raisani with JUI-Fs’ Abdul Wasay, who is going to be made Leader of Opposition, is another matter of concern for many in the PPP Balochistan chapter who suspect that both of them could install the caretaker CM of their choice whenever they wanted.Sources in PPP confirmed that the decision of lifting of Governor Rule has been already taken and Monday’s meeting is aimed at resolving the contentious issues and developing a consensus on one name, either old one or a new one. They said most probably the final decision about the next Balochistan would be made in that meeting. – Nation